MGS4 Comparison Shows Switch 2 Hits 60fps, Beating PS3 Ahead of August 27 Launch

Q: Does this long-awaited release genuinely preserve gaming history, or does the removal of Metal Gear Online make it an incomplete package?

It is a real preservation win, but not a definitive one. The strongest case for preservation is simple: Metal Gear Solid 4 is no longer stranded on PS3. After nearly 18 years of effective hardware lock-in, Konami is bringing one of the series’ most important entries to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch, and Switch 2, with clear technical gains. Reports point to higher resolution, improved textures and shadows, much faster load behavior, and up to 60fps on modern hardware. That matters historically because MGS4 is not a side story; it is the franchise’s major end point for Solid Snake and a key work in Kojima-era game design. The collection also does more than just free MGS4. Peace Walker and Ghost Babel broaden the historical scope, and the inclusion of screenplay books, master books, the MGS4 database, and soundtrack material adds archival value. Critics broadly calling the package a “preservation win” are responding to that access and context. But the absence of Metal Gear Online prevents this from being a fully preserved artifact. MGO was part of how MGS4 existed in 2008, not merely an extra mode. Its removal means players are getting the core single-player game and surrounding materials, but not the complete original ecosystem. That is especially notable because online play and community systems are part of how many games from that era are remembered. So Vol. 2 preserves a crucial piece of gaming history in playable, improved form. It just does not preserve all of it.

3 articles · Updated · Nintendo Life · Aug 23

A new side-by-side video from ElAnalistaDeBits shows Metal Gear Solid 4 on Switch 2 alongside PS5 and the original PS3 version, highlighting the game’s move beyond its long PS3 exclusivity.
The comparison points to sharper resolution, improved shadows and better textures, while the Switch 2 version is said to hold a stable 60fps versus the PS3 release’s 30fps target and drops to 15fps.
Konami’s published specs list MGS4 at up to 4K output on PS5 and Switch 2 TV mode, with Switch 2 rendering internally up to 2560x1440 and requiring about 26GB of storage.
Master Collection Vol. 2 launches on August 27, with the standard Switch version capped at 30fps, making Switch 2 the Nintendo option for the higher-frame-rate release.